All you need to know about the canal du Midi

It was with simplicity and plenty of conviction that I wrote this book. It's aim is to inform readers in their search for information about the Canal du Midi, the three hundred year old engineering feat of Pierre Paul Riquet, accomplished during the reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King. Composed of two main parts, it is both a « holiday-friendly » book you can slip into your hand luggage when you set off to explore the Canal and one that is useful at home if you wish to become an expert on the subject.

The first part contains historical information about the Canal which is clear, precise and easy to understand. It also gives technical and explanatory information about the way the engineering works function, their purpose, and practical information helpful for exploring the Canal in the best possible conditions - by boat, bicycle, rollerblades, on foot or by road.

The second part takes the reader on a trip to explore the most famous waterway in the world from Toulouse to Sète, via Castelnaudary, Carcassonne, Narbonne and Béziers and passing through a string of little villages on the way. In 1996, the Canal was registered as World Heritage by UNESCO. Broken up into five sections, the author has covered every construction and site without exception. He completes his descriptions with anecdotes and memories that vibrantly bring the history of the Canal du Midi to life.

Easy to understand, complete but not complex, this book makes interesting and enjoyable reading for everyone. In 152 beautifully illustrated pages, you will discover the canal, winding along in the shade of its century old plane trees - a masterpiece that could have been the 8th Wonder of the World.